Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-03-10
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher Strick-
en- Down by Apoplexy.
All Hope for His Recovery Abandoned and
His Family, Friends and Congrega-
ton Sorrowfully Awaiting
the Final Summons.

His Family, Friends and Congrega-
ton SorrowfuIly Awaiting
the Final Summons.
| NEW York, March 5-The Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher has had stroke OF
apoplexy, and now lies unconscious.
! While hoping that the attack may not
prove fatal grave fears are entertained
| by his family and intimate friends that
| his labors as pastor in this world have
| ended. MIR. Beecher resides with his son,
| Colonel Henry Beecher. at the corner OF
| Hicks and Clark streets, in Brooklyn. A
| son, who is in the West, another in San
Francisco, andI Mrs. Scoville, his
| daughter, have been telegraphed for.
| Colonel Beecher has also telegraphed
; for his son, who is In Yale
| College Colonel Beecher and his
! brother, ex-Assistant District At
| torney William C. Beecher, with his wife
| and Mrs Beecher, were at the bedside OF
| the great clergyman all day to-day. They
| were completely overcome with grief at
| his condition. He has always been In
! such good health, and was apparently so
| hale for his age that they could hardly
| realize that he was lying there in SUCH
| helpless condition. His attack came on
| so gradually that his wife and son were
| unable to realize the full extent of his ILL
ness.
| BROOKLYN, N. Y, March 6.-The anxiety
| of hundreds of citizens of Brooklyn to
| learn the condition of Rev. Henry Ward
! Beecher led them to visit the residence OF
his son, Colonel Henry Beecher, at Clark
| and Hicks streets, at an early hour this
| morning. Only the immediate friends OF
| the family were admitted, but as soon as
| any one emerged from the dwelling where
! the great preacher was lying at the point
| of death, they were eagerly questioned by
| the throng who surrounded the house.
| They had no word of encouragement in
! regard to his condition, for he had lain in
| an unconscious condition since Saturday
| afternoon, and had not since that time
| given any evidence that he recognized any
| person about his bedside. Up to that
| time he had been able to raise his right
| hand to his head and give them to under
| stand that he was suffering considerable
f! pain, but in the evening he seemed to
! pass into comatose state, his breathing
! was hard, and he lost the power of NOV
. ing his body.
Mrs. Beecher was by his bedside good
! portion of the night, and she was relieved
! by her daughter, Mrs. Scoville, who ar
| rived early last evening. The medicine
! prescribed by the physician was regularly
| taken, and Mr.. Beecher had no difficulty
| in swallowing it.
| DIR. Searle his family physician, reached
the house shortly after eight o'clock this
m orning, and, after an examination, con-
cluded that Mr.. Beecher was not as well
as last evening, and it was probably only
a question of few hours when he would
pass away. He was not surprised at Mr..
Beecher's condition, having anticipated an
unfavorable change
All efforts to arouse Mr.. Beecher to any
, sense of consciousness proved unavailing.
The family were, of course, overcome
iaf hoi har RI
realize that there was no hope of a change
for the better.
At four o'clock this morning there
seemed to be a change for the worse, and
all the members of the family were sum-
moned. Breathing almost ceased, and dis
solution seemed near. The patient was
wholly unconscious, but half an hour later
rally took place.
At ten o'clock another alarming relapse
occurred. Major Pond took carriage and
FASTENED to DR.. Hammond's Office in New
York. The doctor was engaged that he
could not leave, and he sent a request to
DR.. VIM. Todd Helmuth to go instead, and
wait until he came. DR.. Helmuth assent
ed, and drove back with Major Pond, and
at II a. m this bulletin was issued:
Prof. Helmuth, in consultation, fully confirms
the opinion of the other physicians. Mr.. Beech
er is gradually falling. He may, however, live
for several days.
BY this time there was a crowd of sew
eral hundred persons around the house,
w no pressed eagerly forward to scan the
bulletin. Then some of them moved sadly
away to the church, a short distance from
the house, and listened to the mournful
services, which only served to remind
them more forcibly of him who had been
stricken from the pulpit he had occupied
so long.
An hour or so later DR.. Hammond ar.
rived at the house and consulted with
Doctors Searle and Helmuth and the fol-
lowing bulletin was issued:
March $3.50 p. m.
DIR. Hammond in consultation. Mr.. Beeche1
in deep state of coma all day. No sign OF
pain or consciousness of any sort. Death con-
sidered certain but at an indefinite time-prob-
ably not to-day.
[Sgned] w. s. SEARLE.
Mr.. Thos. &. Shearman and other inn
mediate friends of the family were adj
mitted to the sick room during the day,
and one after another emerged with eyes
filled with tears. In the afternoon 1t re-
quired the services of two policemen to
kee p the steps to the dwelling from being
blocked completely by the crowd.
DIR. Searle made another call upon Mr.
Eeecher about five o'clock, and said that
he thought he was breathing easier, and
he did not look for immediate dissolution.
1t was his opinion that Mr.. Beecher would
live until tomorrow.
During the day he has been under the
constant supervision of his physician, who
will remain with him during the night
Drs. W. T. Helmuth and w. A Hammond,
of New York City, have each visited him
once to-day. ALI these medical advisers
are in full and active accord as to the To-
cation of the diseased part, it's present
status, the remedial measures to be en-
ployed, and as to the progress of the case
1t is their opinion that the history of to-
day confirms the opinion they have enter
tanned from the beginning, viz: that re-
covery is not to be hoped for; that though
the effusion of blood into the brain is now
stopped, fresh hemorrhage may at any
time occur and speedily end life; that this
is not likely to happen so far as present
indications can be trusted.
No sermon was preached at Mr.. Beech
er's church this morning, but beautiful
and impressiveservlce took its place. The
church was well filled. Rev. DR.. Powell,
secretary of the Home Missionary Society,
conducted the service, assisted by Rev. s.
B. Halliday, Mr.. Beecher's white haired
assistant. DR.. Powell prayed for the
congregation in the deep affection that
had come upon it. Then venerable DR..
Halliday rose, and, with trembling voice,
said: 't1t seems fit that we omit the regu-
lar service and celebrate only the COM
munion. think your hearts will readily
respond to the change of service. Tears
streauted down his cheeks as he added
that, few moments before, the condition
OF Mr.. Beecher had been declared hopeless